While Nike "acknowledged that it has begun talks" with
Tiger Woods to renegotiate his current five-year, $40M deal,
Nike Golf Communications Dir Mike Kelly has "denied" a Golf
World report that states the company would "more than
double" Woods' pay, according to Jeff Manning of the
Portland OREGONIAN, who wrote that the reported $80-90M
extension "is way out of the norm given the industry's cuts
in sports marketing spending in recent years." Kelly: "The
reported numbers in the release are definitely not
reflective of current market conditions." However, Kelly
"made it clear" that Nike "intends to keep Woods in the
fold." Meanwhile, Titleist Media Relations Manager Joe
Gomes "denies" that the company "has agreed to settle its
lawsuit against Nike," and also "refused to comment on the
claim that Titleist is prepared to cut its ties to Woods."
Manning wrote that both Nike and Titleist "deny large parts
of the Golf World report and refuse to talk about others."
Also, Woods' agent Mark Steinberg "declined to comment"
(Portland OREGONIAN, 8/25). CNN's Casey Wian reported on
"Moneyline" that a "richer deal" with Woods "would be risky
for Nike." Wian: "While Woods won the PGA [Championship], he
lost fans to a younger rival, ... Sergio Garcia, and there's
the danger of overexposure." Sports Business Group
Principal David Carter, on the ramifications for Nike: "For
them to get their ... $80 or $90 million out of this, are
they going to have to exploit [Woods] so much, use him so
much, that people will begin to tune out?" (CNN, 8/25).
IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN? FSN's Jim Rome, on Nike
restructuring Woods' contract: "Because of his game and
because of his charisma, Tiger is going to be the next
Arnold Palmer, the sport's next icon, an ambassador. He'll
be signing $90 million deals for the next 50 years. ...
He'll make Michael Jordan look like he's on welfare, and ...
he's worth every last penny. ... Nobody is in this guy's
league" ("The Last Word," FSN, 8/25). PGA Tour Commissioner
Tim Finchem, on Woods' value to the Tour: "He spikes the
ratings, he sells tickets, he sells whatever product he
touches. He is a superstar who transcends golf, just the
way Michael Jordan did in basketball" (WASH. POST, 8/26).
EL NINO, THE RIVAL: In Dallas, Brad Townsend wrote that
Sergio Garcia's agents Jose Marquina and Robert Gutierrez
"are set to announce a partnership with IMG, ... among
others." However, Marquina "denied that he and Gutierrez
will be hired by IMG." Marquina, on the IMG partnership:
"We'll share some ideas and business opportunities" (DALLAS
MORNING NEWS, 8/25). Garcia was profiled by Bill Livingston
of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, who wrote, "Innocence is
sports' most appealing property, perhaps because it is so
perishable. That is why one half of the rivalry of choice
for the next millennium in golf is [Garcia]" (Cleveland
PLAIN DEALER, 8/25). In Akron, Terry Pluto writes Garcia is
a "fresh face, a bubbling personality, the new Tiger Woods.
People can't get enough of him" (BEACON JOURNAL, 8/26).
